Norwegian expert denies criticising Czechs over methanol deaths

Oslo/Prague, Sept 18 (CTK) - Norwegian doctor Knut Erik Hovda, who recently brought the fomepizole highly efficient medicine for methanol poisoning to the Czech Republic, yesterday dismissed that he would criticise Czech authorities for not being able to deal with the rising numbers of victims of the poisoning.

At least 23 people died after consuming liquor laced with methanol and tens of others are treated in Czech hospitals with poisoning symptoms. The methanol scandal broke out about 10 days ago.

In an interview released by Norwegian daily Verdens Gang, the respected toxicologist Hovda said the Czech authorities did not have the methanol affair under control and the situation in the country was chaotic.

The Czech Health Ministry said it is taken aback by these statements since Hovda spoke differently in the Czech Republic last week.

Hovda, who works in the Toxicological Institute of the Oslo Teaching Hospital, told CTK that Verdens Gang twisted the statements he made two days ago, not quoting him correctly.

He said he told the tabloid that the methyl alcohol affair was swelling and the police did not have it under full control yet.

Hovda said he praised the work of Czech medical staff. He added that he told the tabloid that fomepizole was not registered in the Czech Republic but the Health Ministry managed to have it registered within a few hours.

Verdens Gang wrote that Hovda said the Czechs welcomed him as an angel of salvation and he and his colleagues were in the media limelight.

According to Verdens Gang, Hovda was worried about the ban on liquor sales in the Czech Republic.

"Tourism industry is dependent on alcohol sales. In this situation people are obtaining alcohol by other means and problems are only escalating," it quoted Hovda as saying.

He told CTK yesterday that the introduction of a temporary ban on liquor sales is good to enable the police reveal the source of the poisonous methanol.

Last week, the Czech government imposed an indefinite ban on the sales of hard liquor. Several distributors of illegal alcohol have been arrested and barrels of dangerous alcohol revealed.

Health Ministry spokesman Vlastimil Srsen said the misunderstanding with Hovda has already been explained.

Czech media wrote that Hovda contacted Czech representatives over the methanol poisonings after he read an e-mail sent by a Czech expert warning about the situation in the country.

Health Minister Leos Heger yesterday repeatedly said the Czech Republic is negotiating about the purchase of fomepizole with the producer. He said the ministry may release several millions of crowns for this purpose.

($1=18.719 crowns)